School’s been back in for a whole week, so surely you’ve got flyers by now?
Elf
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – This series jumped the shark a while back, but the first couple of them are quite cute and have a great structure. On its own, I highly recommend this one if you don’t happen to have it already.
The Colours of Us Pack – Themed packs don’t always work, but in this case, two of the three I know and like (All the Colours of the Earth is lovely), and the third is by Mem Fox, who is always a safe bet, so if you are looking to inject a little multicultural spirit into your library, this is a good pack.
Llama Llama Collection – I’m not crazy about Llama Llama myself, but I’ve seen first hand how it speaks directly to toddlers and young preschoolers and totally captures their frustrations and how their emotions can get out of control. Maybe not the stuff of classics and memories, but it really works for them.
Otis – This is very retro and a little quiet, rendered in sepias and deep red touches, so it’s not for every kid, but it’s a wonderful friendship story about a little old tractor named Otis who proves himself and his worth when he comes to the rescue of a friend, and it is really a very nice little story.
National Geographic non-fiction – Nat Geo is turning out great non-fiction for kids these days. The pictures are everything you’d expect from them, the facts are solid, and they have pitched them well for browsing and more thorough reading alike, depending on the kid. I recommend these if your kid would find the topic interesting.
Sing-along Board Book Pack – These sweetly illustrated, but not too saccharine, and I love books of songs for kids. The rhythm and rhyme are great for literacy, they help you remember the words, and they get to see the words on the page as you sing. I have this copy of You Are My Sunshine and quite like it. Excellent all around!
Five Little Monkeys Pack – Fans of bouncy rhymes and silliness love these monkeys, and can’t get enugh, as they move from jumping on the bed to getting into other mischief. These used to be frequent flyers, but I haven’t seen them for a while.
Elephant & Piggie – I love these books. They are cute, sweet, easy to read, and truly hilarious. Mo Willems’ gift for animation and facial expression is used to its fullest extent in these, where words are fewer. I have actually bought pretty much every title in the series.
Munch Annikin Pack – I have to admit, I like these sets quite a lot – partly because they are all Munsch’s older works, which I like best, and partly because you can tuck a whole bunch of great stories in your pocket or purse for those times when you really need to occupy your child for a bit. Waiting rooms, covered. They also make really nice pieces for loot bags, rather than something plastic and likely to fall apart.
Goodnight, Goonight, Construction Site – This goodnight book is a strong pick for the vehicle lover, and the gorgeous illustrations convey a softer side of Lichtenheld’s cartoony style. I really like this one, and just gave it to a nephew for Christmas. The DVD versions are generally very well done, as they stay true to the illustration style, simply animating it, and stick exactly to the text, making for a nice way to bring the story alive.
SeeSaw
The Runaway Wok – There are a little handful of take-offs on the Gingerbread Man story, including a pancake, a tortilla, a rice cake, and this one, a runaway wok, which is a fun little story and a cute little intro to Chinese New Year.
There’s a Hole in My Bucket – This isn’t necessarily the most fantastically illustrated book, but I love books of songs for kids. The rhythm and rhyme are great for literacy, they help you remember the words, and they get to see the words on the page as you sing. Excellent all around!
Eric Carle Collection – Eric Carle is always a good bet – a favourite of many, a good storyteller, and skilled at weaving concept teaching into a story, not to mention an easily-recognized illustrator. This set of four includes a few of his biggest titles, as well as some less-common ones and a couple of my favourites. Carle does come up a few times in the year, so if you don’t want all of these, you could wait.
National Geographic non-fiction – Nat Geo is turning out great non-fiction for kids these days. The pictures are everything you’d expect from them, the facts are solid, and they have pitched them well for browsing and more thorough reading alike, depending on the kid. I recommend these if your kid would find the topic interesting.
Lucky
Captain Underpants – Okay, I know. he’s rude, crude, and enough with the fart jokes. But? He’s also hilarious and plenty of boys love him, not to mention the half-graphic format works really well for reluctant or less confident readers. As much as they make some parents crazy, these really are fun and a great hook for the kid who needs something a little sillier to get engaged.
Magic Tree House – This long-running series is still going strong, and I’m still enjoying the adventures of Jack & Annie as they explore times, places, and major historical figures. It’s a nice bridge between fiction and non-fiction, and though definitely on formula, still an enjoyable, decently-written read.
National Geographic non-fiction – Nat Geo is turning out great non-fiction for kids these days. The pictures are everything you’d expect from them, the facts are solid, and they have pitched them well for browsing and more thorough reading alike, depending on the kid. I recommend these if your kid would find the topic interesting.
Fudge Collection – Good old Fudge by Judy Blume chestnut has acquired classic status, and is still much-requested by kids in grades 2-4. A good read for boys and girls alike, kids very much relate to Fudge, it seems!
Over and Under the Snow – A child and father enter the woods, cross-country skiing and watching for wildlife. As the dad tells the child about the animals and how they live over and under the snow in winter, the reader learns as well in this quiet, retro-illustrated picture book that I reviewed here.
That Is not a Good Idea! – This is one of Mo Willems’ newer titles, and it’s great fun. Told in a style reminiscent of silent movies with titles between scenes, it’s the story of a mother duck’s encounter with a fox, who invites her into his kitchen. Her increasingly frantic ducklings suggest that this is NOT a good idea – and a funny twist ending shows you why. This one I bought a couple of months back, I loved it so.
Pigeon Pack – Pigeon books are major hits with kids for their silliness, comic style, and interactivity. Get ready to get rowdy as you read them – it only makes it better that way! These are what Mo Willems a household name, for very good reason, so if you have none on your shelf, this is a good opportunity to grab the first four at once.
The Stinky Cheese Man – One of Jon Scieszka’s classic titles, this is filled with utterly ridiculous little stories that brings to mind short folk tales, but are completely different, being all about the silly. It’s a fun one, and kids tend to love it.
Ramona Pack – I LOVE Ramona. The original sassy young girl, and still one of the very best, this set of stories about Ramona and her sister Beezus is great for reading aloud or alone and enjoying the scrapes she gets herself into.
Arrow
Lego Play Book – Ooh! I’ve been wanting one of these to show up so I can grab it for my kids, who are fully Lego-obsessed. This one is full of ideas to get them using their bricks in different ways and start them thinking about what else they could turn them into. With Lego getting more specialized all the time, this is a great return to building from the basics.
The Bully Book – This is a very interesting book about bullying, both from the perspective on what it takes to make a bully and in showing the victim’s viewpoint. I reviewed it here, and found it a very good read and a good way to get thinking about the topic and start talking with your kids.
Big Nate – This is one of those imitators I mention below – sort of the natural successor to Diary of a Wimpy Kid – half-graphic, sassy, and great kid appeal. A touch cheekier, but still funny, any fan of the former is pretty sure to enjoy these.
Dork Diaries – This series is sort of a “girl” version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid – a half-graphic, diary-format look at life as a pretty average kid with the pretty standard feeling of being totally put-upon at times. Not bad, not great, but mostly included here as an answer to those same books presented differently for a more likely female audience.
Jedi Academy – Imagine Luke in jedi school… with a Sith Lord for a dad? Awkward! This series of cartoons based on the world of Star Wars are very funny, exploiting exactly this sort of contradiction in the story to very good effect. I enjoy them a lot, but they are just about perfect for young Star Wars fans.
Jackpot & Swindle Pack – Gordon Korman has scored another terrific, funny, and still-growing series with these, which I’ve been quite enjoying. A class full of kids with specific talents keeps getting involved in things… with pretty amusing results. (I keep likening Zoobreak to a heist movie a la Ocean’s Eleven with a dash of comedy.) The newest one as well as the rest of the set are on offer here, so you can pick up just the one, or the whole lot, though they are frequent flyers, so you could grab them later, too.
Klutz Kits Toolbox Jewelry – I’ve said monthly how much I love Klutz Kits for their clear instructions, completeness, and consistent good results, and it’s totally true – but this month, i can tell you I’ve been making things from this kit just last week, and they have turned out fantastic. I very much recommend this one for crafty kids, though the colours of the strings and ribbons included lean heavily toward the girly, I have to admit. These also make great gifts, so I think I’m going to pick up a few for that purpose.
Stargirl – A wonderful book about a quirky girl who doesn’t fit in, and a boy who loves her, this one skews a little older. It’s a lesson, a look at opportunity lost, an encouragement to look further and to follow your heart. It’s a lovely one by Spinelli, who writes a lot of offbeat characters very well.
Hatchet pack – an award-winning book about the adventure of a young boy’s survival in the woods after a plane crash by respected author Gary Paulsen. An excellent”guys read” choice with a flavour of Jack London. This month offers a pack with the sequels as well, so if you’re sure your kid will be in, you can pick up the whole set, or wait for a smaller one to come along.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – This series has been a massive hit with kids and spawned a few imitators, as well. It is very funny, and the half-graphic format makes it a favourite with reluctant readers. This is a pretty nearly monthly offering, so you can count on being able to pick them up at any point through the year.
I Survived Pack – kids who thrive on action and adventure in their reading often gravitate toward these tales of surviving disaster. This is the perfect example of tapping into something they love and running with it! These are based on real-life events, too, which is always extra-thrilling.
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